This new recording by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen is dedicated to the works of Spanish Renaissance composer Francisco Guerrero and includes his exquisite Missa de la Batalla Escoutez. The Mass is a parody on Janequin's famous chanson La Guerre which also features on this disc. Janequin’s La Guerre, was so popular in the 16th century that it led to numerous composers, including Janequin himself, writing parody mass settings on it. Missa de la Batalla Escoutez is one of the finest of those settings.

Guerrero is a quite astounding and varied composer with a wide expressive range. Heralded in the Renaissance as ‘the most extraordinary of his time in the art of music’, he was more famous than Victoria and Morales. Despite being a master of expression and sublime melodic invention - skills exemplified by his Missa de la Batalla Escoutez and the other fine works on this disc - Guerrero’s work has often been overlooked in favour of that of his contemporaries. With this brand new recording The Sixteen aims to redress the balance.

The Sixteen
Harry Christophers

Track Listing:

Clément Janequin (c.1485–1558)
1. La Guerre (La bataille de Marignan)

Francisco Guerrero (1528–1599)
2. Lauda mater ecclesia 
3. Tota pulchra es, Maria 
4. Hymn: Vexilla Regis
5. Song of Songs: Ego flos campi 
6. Pange lingua 

Missa de la batalla escoutez
(parody mass on Janequin's chanson La Guerre)
7. Kyrie
8. Gloria
9. Credo 
10. Sanctus 
11. Benedictus
12. Agnus Dei 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 69.23